Four postulants were admitted into the novitiate on the evening of September 21, 2012. The community of Boston gathered with great joy at evening prayer to celebrate the simple rite of entrance into novitiate.
Sr. Julia Karina Hernández Jañez and Sr. Sandra Lucas addressing the community: "Teach us to persevere in prayer and in sacrifice, to nourish our life with the Word and with the Eucharist, to form with you one heart and one soul in the service of the Church and of all humanity."
Sr. Cheryl Galema singing the opening hymn to our Father, St. Paul: "Who will separate me from the love of Christ?" St. Paul is our patron and our father, our model in living Christ.
"Novitiate is the real initiation into the Pauline religious life. It is a time set apart for reflection, self-discipline, and contemplation...." With this step of religious formation, Sr. Theresa Noble and Sr. Cheryl, Sr. Julia and Sr. Sandra asked to be accepted into the family of the Daughters of St. Paul.
Sr. Mary Leonora, Provincial Superior, encouraged the novices in their journey in order that they may prepare themselves to gives their lives to the Father in the spirit and in the mission of the Daughters of St. Paul.
Sr. Carmen Christi, Formator for the Novices, read the second reading in Spanish. The novitiate has a particular Hispanic flavor since Sr. Julia is from our Mexican province.
Each novice was presented with meaningful symbols for her formation: The Gospel and Letters of St. Paul, the picture of Mary, Queen of Apostles, and the rosary. "May the Gospel of Jesus Master and the Letters of St. Paul, our Father, be for you light for the mind, law of life and guide in the apostolate."
"May Mary, Queen of Apostles, introduce you into the school of the Divine Master and form you for the apostolate."
Sr. Mary Leonora led the final prayer: "O God, listen to our prayers, and grant that, together with these sisters, who are resolved to follow your Son in this family, which is consecrated to you, we will keep with faith the designs of your will and bring them to fulfillment."
All of our sisters in the US and Mexico rejoice with our new novices and entrust them in a particular way to Mary, Mother, Teacher and Queen of Apostles who will herself guide them in the school of Jesus Christ, the Divine Master. Congratulations!